Chasowa’s death ‘not suicide’, insists pathologist Dzamalala

Malawi’s pathologist Dr Charles Dzamalala, who carried out a post-mortem on the body of a fourth year University of Malawi engineering student Robert Chasowa whose mysterious death police say, was a case of suicide, told Capital Radio’s Straight Talk programme on Tuesday that his death was not suicide and that his yet-to-be released report will state so.

Chasowa was found in a pool of blood at the college campus with a deep cut on the back of his head on September 24, 2011.

Police spokesman Willie Mwaluka said the 25-year-old student was “wanted” by the police but ruled his death as suicide.

During an interview with Brian Banda on Straight Talk, Dzamalala said he did not produce any autopsy report as earlier claimed in a police statement, saying his findings on the death of the student will be released later this week.

Dzamalala (L) being interviewed for Straight Talk . He maintains the death of Chasowa was not suicide as claimed by police. Photo: Brian Banda/Facebook

“I am very careful with my reports. I need time to read in the books. I need assurances from the books as well,” he said.

Dzamalala said the police have “their own pressures among themselves” while he works strictly on his professional ethics.

The pathologist said he asked police when Chasowa’s death was brought to him if they did any finger printing “on the body and the scene”, adding “that should have given them a big clue.”

Dzamalala insists Chasowa did not commit suicide.

“I did not tell them anything which had to do with suicide,” said Dzamalala refuting police claims that he ruled suicide on the death of the student activist.

“The fact that there is a possibility for suicide, I don’t think so. But anyway wait for my report,” he said when asked by the presenter on what police said in their statement dated September 25, 2011.

Dzamalala said Chasowa’s face “whole face was soiled with blood. The face and the neck, there was no injury at all.”

He said his report will not mention suicide because his examination and laboratory tests provided so.

“It was not suicide that I can surely put to you,” he said.

Dzamalala explained why he took his time to come up with a report, saying “I would not release a report when I am not sure. I will always make sure I have done the research around the subject.”

He said he is also finishing reading the book on “the pattern of head injuries following a fall.”

Chasowa was a wanted man by security forces on his involvement with The Weekly Political Update newsletter which has been attacking the Bingu WA Mutharika.